By Abdullahi Lukman
The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria has expanded its sustainability initiatives through investments in water, sanitation and hygiene, plastic recycling, and community development, with more than 16,000 people benefiting from improved water and sanitation services in Borno State.
The system, comprising The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has focused on initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact, supporting livelihoods and strengthening communities. 
One of its major interventions is the Strengthening Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Service Delivery (S-WASH) programme in Borno State. Implemented in partnership with The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF) and WaterAid, the programme has improved access to essential water, sanitation and hygiene services in six communities.
The initiative has supported the rehabilitation of boreholes and the installation of handwashing stations, while healthcare facilities and educational institutions have also benefited from improved water infrastructure. It has further trained women as volunteer hygiene promoters and equipped young people with maintenance skills to help sustain the facilities.
The intervention forms part of a nearly $25 million investment announced by The Coca-Cola Company’s Africa Operating Unit and its bottling partners in September 2024 to address water-related challenges across 20 African countries, including Nigeria, by 2030.
The company’s sustainability drive has also recorded progress in plastic waste management. In January 2025, the Coca-Cola System commissioned a Packaging Collection Hub in Apapa, Lagos, to improve the collection, sorting and processing of used polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles.
The facility has the capacity to process up to 13,000 metric tonnes of PET bottles annually. Through partnerships supporting the production of food-grade recycled PET, the hub is expected to strengthen material recovery and reduce plastic waste. The project is also projected to provide direct benefits to about 1,000 informal waste collectors through increased economic opportunities in the recycling value chain.
Beyond environmental initiatives, the Coca-Cola System’s operations contribute to employment and economic activity in Nigeria. A 2024 socio-economic impact assessment found that the system supports more than 160,200 jobs across its value chain, with contributions spanning local sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and taxation.
The company’s sustainability strategy centres on three major areas: water stewardship, packaging circularity and economic empowerment. These priorities reflect an approach that connects environmental management with community development and economic participation.
Through its water projects, recycling infrastructure and skills-development initiatives, the Coca-Cola System continues to pursue sustainability programmes intended to deliver environmental and social benefits while supporting its operations across Nigeria.
